AKRON, Ohio — The Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron has made its first round of research and development grants: $680,000 to eight projects ranging from a contact lens embedded with a sensor that measures blood glucose levels to a polymer platform for drug-eluting prosthetic devices.
The BioInnovation Institute, which recently completed its first year, is a collaboration of five research, education and health institutions in the Akron area and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The institute is aiming at using Akron’s legacy in materials science to pioneer next-generation biomedical innovations, eventually spinning off companies and creating jobs.
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The funded projects will be administered by the institute’s Center of Biomaterials and Medicine, which is using strengths in biopolymers, orthopedics and wound healing to speed up the translation of research to the bedside. The founding members of the institute are Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), Summa Health System and the University of Akron.
The projects are:
    -   “Development of a Polymer Platform for Drug-Eluting Prosthetic Devices,” ($100,000 grant), Judit E. Puskas, University of Akron; Steve Schmidt, Summa Health System.
    -   “Real-Time in situ Sensing of Ulnar Nerve Strain for Injury Prevention and Diagnosis,” ($100,000 grant), Zhenhai Xia and Juay Seng Tan, University of Akron; Dr. Nina M. Njus, Summa Health System, Summit Hand Center–Crystal Clinic Inc.
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    -  “Development of Biomimetic Liquid Crystal Films for Sugar Sensing Contact Lens in Noninvasive Real-Time Diabetic Care,” ($100,000 grant), J. Jack Hu, Akron Medvision, University of Akron; Dr. Deepak Edward, Summa Health System.
    -   “Controlled Delivery System of ALK-5 Inhibitors for Suppression of Ocular Scarring after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery,” ($100,000 grant), Vijaykumar Sutariya and Werner Geldenhuys, NEOUCOM; Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, Summa Health System.
    -  “Deep Wound Repair Utilizing Microtubular Scaffolds,” ($100,000 grant), Liya Yin and William M. Chilian, NEOUCOM; Bi-min Zhang Newby, University of Akron; Dr. Robert Schweikert, Akron General Medical Center.
    -  “Development of Delivery Mechanisms for Liquid Crystalline Pharmaceuticals Using Electrospinning,” ($100,000 grant), James M. Jamison, NEOUCOM, Summa Health System, Kent State University; Yang H. Yun, University of Akron; Dr. Vivian E. von Gruenigen (pdf), NEOUCOM, Case Western Reserve University; Chun-che Tsai, Kent State University.
    -  “A Basis for Normal and Abnormal Cartilage Development in Vertebrate Long Bone,” ($40,000 grant), William J. Landis, NEOUCOM; Dr. Dennis S. Weiner, Akron Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
    -  “Mechanically Enhanced, Peptide Crosslinked Poly (ester urea) for Critical Bone Defect Repair,” ($40,000 grant), Matthew L. Becker, University of Akron; Matthew Graham, Akron Polymer Systems Inc.; John Elias, Akron General Medical Center, NEOUCOM; Kimberly Stakleff, Akron General Medical Center; Dr. Scott Weiner, Summa Health System.